The Wilmingtonian., 1887-06-11
"ISOad Agents" +"

road companies as mindful Of their patron s
interests as they should bep
In view Of the rich find that awaits the
train robber and the comparative safety
with which he can escape with his plumber,
the wonderment is that "Road Agents" do
not abound more numerousy.
Within very few years, it will be re-
membered, that two embryonic Road
Agents." just below Elkton. terrorized a
crowded car and escaped with their steal
ings. The recent robbery OF Texas and
Pacific train in Texas has gone the rounds
of the daily press and yet there seems to be
no well defined acton on the part of railroad
authorities to protect their passengers from
such lawlessness.
Any railroad trayersing sparsely settled
country is liable at any hour to be halted
aud the passengers robbed under the present
railroad regime.
AS matter Of fact every well filled train
is simply bonanza to the daring train
robber. For instance take five coaches
each containing thirty-tive passengers, total
one hundred and seventy-five. OF this num-
Der one hundred aud twenty five would have
gold watches averaging s100, making
sl2500. Diamonds, &C., aggregating s1s,-
500 A modest estimate of cash distributed
among one hundred and seventy five trav-
ellers would not be short of another sec, 600.
Thus it can be readily seen that an organ
ized band of a half dozen robbers can de-
moralize train of unsuspecting and un-
protected travellers and get away with $50,
900 with comparative ease and safety.
1t is patent to all, that this question of
vital significance to the patrons of the rail
has not been met with that prompttude
which its Importance demands at the hands
of transportation companies. 1t occurs to
us that il the attaches of the train can not
muster enough courage to do police service
in emergencies that other agencies should be
employed that would give fair warranty to
the personal effects of the travellers
We take it, that an expest on each coach
with brace of DerriDgers would readily
subdue the enthusiasm of the most Jealous
''ioad agent"
The New York Star in discussing tain
robberies says:
A great deal has been said on both sides
of the controversy, but the fact remains
that the rObberies continue and that the
companies appear to be as helpless now as
when that thriving industry first began.
One feature has aluas struck us as being
especially significant. In nine cases out of
ten trains are stopped and robbed by parties
of not more than five men. Although the
trains have, in nearly every instance, at least
twice that number OF officials, counting the
engiDeer, fireman, conductors, etc., it so
happens that four or fl I've men can stop it,
paralyze its entire personnel and rob the
safes and the postal pouches without en-
countering any serious opposition or rum
ming any measurable risk. The moral of
this seems very patent, and it is that an or
gaBized four are better than an unorgaDized
eight. The robbers act in concert, upon
systematic plan, and the trainmen, being
without such harmony Of purpose and un.
derstanding are helpless.
But why should this be SO? Why hould
not the tranmen be as well organ'z ID and
have as thorough an understanding as the
robbers? The latter are armed; why should
not the former be also armed? If train is
halted the tranmen must certainly know
why. If not for legitin ate purpose and
by signal of the conductor, they must per-
ceive that something il wronO. If the rob-
hers concentrate on the engineer then the
rest of the railway officials are free to act,
and this is true OF the case of tie express or
the postal car. Four robbers cannot con-
centrate on eight different trainmen at the
same moment. Some Of the latter must, at
some moment, be footloose; or, supposing
that the robbers were numerous enough to
meeG the whole train contingent man %
man, why should not the latter stand by the
property committed to their charge and
make fight for itP
In such conflict the robbers must always
be at disadvantage. One determined man
in an engine cab or an express car could
easily hold at bay six times his strength.
He is protected. He cannot be surrounded.
lie must be approached, if at all, through
narrow doorway. Every shot fired by him
must tell. very shot not only lessons the
number Of his assailants, but serves notice
on his coadiutors. If the attack is made
upon the engine the engineer can easily hold
the assailants at bay until the tralnmen
rally to his aid. And 80 in the case of the
express car or the post office. II seems to
us that nothing is needed but organization
and courage, and we are the more confirmed
in this impression when we recall an Incl
dent which occurred only few years ago in
Texas where an express agent on the Hous-
ont Central road, Hawkins by name, resisted
band of robbers and kept the doorway of
his car quite clear by the simple process of
standing opposite to it and shooting down
the first two robbers who 'ried to enter. He
rece"ed no aid from the train hands. He
was not orgsnized at all. But he knew that
when it came to Ell ering car six men were
no better tEan one, and he acted on that
conviction with yigor and courage.
1t is our opinion that the railway compan-
les rather court these spoliations by neglect
ing tile simplest and most obvious prscau-
tions. II it were once understood that
train hands were armed and organized with
a view to resisting outrage, the robbers
would not be so ready nor so successful in
their operations.